Combined door knocker and switch



Jan. 14, 1930. c, c, cAsE, JR

COMBINED DOOR KNOCKER AND SWITCH Filed Feb. l5. 1928 Patented Jan. 14,193- 3 PATEN'E GE FECIE CHARLES C. CASE, JR., 035 I-IOOSICK FALLS, NEVIYORK COMBINED DOOR KNOCKER AND SWITGH Application filed February 15,1928.

The present invention pertains to improvement in annunciators,especially adapted for the door of a residence, wherein the device isconstructed to simulate a conventional door knocking device, but whichwhen operated, the same closes an electrical circuit by certain novelswitch means, for ringing a bell located at a desirable place within theresi-o dence.

The purpose of the device is to provide a structure simulating aconventional door knocker, but which has concealed a novel switchconstruction for closing a circuit to a bell located at some remote partof the house,

whereas by the use of the ordinary knocker,

the sound thereof, as generally known, will carry only for a limiteddistance.

A paramount object of the invention is to provide a device or" thisparticular nature,

wherein by the usual movement of the knocker member, an electricalsignal will be then given.

Still another object resides in providing a compact, neat appearingdevice, which may be employed to simulate a door knocker with out anysuspicion that the same is of more modern exigencies.

After considering the following specification and claims, other verynovel objects and advantages of this in ition will readily becomeapparent.

in the drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the device,whil Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the sameand disclosing the operative relation of parts.

New for a more detailed disclosure of the invention, reference is madeto the drawing, wherein like numeral represent like parts of theinvention. The plate 1 may be constructed of any desired shape orinscribed with any desired design or ornamentation, and which is formedwith suitable openings, whereby the same may be secured to a door or thelike by suitable screws 2.

The intermediate longitudinal portion of the plate is bulged as at 3,the outer side of which. tapers inwardly toward the lower end Serial No.254,592.

of the plate, in the manner clearly shown in its inner face, to conformwith the curvature of the shaft, is also curved at its outer face, andsecured to the intermediate port-ion of the shaft by a screw '7.

To the inner side of the bulged portion 3, an insulating strip 8 isadapted to space a spring contact strip 9 from the metallic material ofthe bul e. The up-end of this contact member is bent inwardly as at 10,and slightly pointed, while the lower end portion of the member is bentslightly obliquely and to which a button 11 is secured.

This button is adapted to project through an opening at the lower endportion of the plate and against which the bight portion of the knockeri is to normally bear lightly. A. second spring contact strip 12projects at its upper end beyond the pointed end of the member 9, and.is normally in spaced relation to the shaft 5.

The lower end of this member is bent toward the contact member 9 andpointed as at 13. As is clearly shown in the drawings, a strip ofinsulating material 14': separates the two contact members from eachother. A strip of insulating material 15 is disposed "against the outerside of the member 12, while 'a pair of spaced openings are formed .ineach oi the insulating strips and contact members respectively, so thatwhen the same are assembled in the manner described, and shown in Fig.2, the openings will register, whereby a bushing 17 may be insertedtherethrough for connecting the elements together. A screw 18 may beinserted within the bushing for further securing these beveled elementsto the inner side of the bulge. Each of the spring contact members isprovided with a laterally disposed projection 19, through which a setscrew 20 may be threaded for engagement with the inner surface of thebulge and respective leads of the annunciator' circuit,

In the operation of this device, when the lrnoclrer member 4 is lifted,the block 6 will engage the upper end portion of the contact member 12,resulting in the engagement of that member with the pointed end 10 ofthe contact 9, whereby the circuit will be made for ringing a hell orother annunciating means.

When the knocker is again returned to its original position with someforce, the button 11 will be forced inwardly in contact with the pointedend 13 of the member 12. In this movement of the knocker arm, thecompleted circuit effected by the contact of the mem: bers at theirupper ends will be broken and the circuit again closed at the lower endof the frame members, by the inward movement of the button 11.

Obviously the plate and bulged portion thereof can be attractivelyornamented if desired, so that the presence of the switch mechanismwithin, will not be suspected by persons unconscious thereof, and whichdevice will intermittently operate the annunciator, thus eliminating theannoyance of the continuous ringing thereof.

The particular construction of this combined door knocker and switchincorporates certain features rendering the same immune to form a shortcircuit, and mitigating the liability of shock to persons actuating thesame.

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In aswitch of the character described, a casing, a pivotal member at theouter side of the casing, a pair of spring elements arranged within thecasing in insulated and [Spaced relation, said elements being adapted tonormally maintain an electrical circuit open, the ends of said elementsbeing normally in spaced relation, cam means between the pivotal end ofsaid pivotal member and one end of one of the said spring elements forcontact therewith when the lever is moved in a given direction, to causesaid end to contact with the end of the adjacent elements, and meansassociated with the opposite ends of the elements for contacting thesame when the pivotal member is moved'inversely.

2. In switch of the character described, a casing, a pivotal member atthe outer side of the casing, a pair of spring elements arranged withinthe casing in insulated and spaced relation, said elements being adaptedto normally maintain an electrical circuit open, the ends of saidelements being normally in spaced relation, scam means between thepivotal end of said pivotal member and one end of oneof the said springelements for contact therewith when the lever is moved in a givendirection, to cause said end to contactwith the end of the adjacentelements, the projection on the opposite end of one of the elementsnormally projecting through an opening in the casing and adapted forengagement by the free end of the pivotal member whereby said end of theelements will contact with the adjacent end of the complementary elementto close the electrical circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' CHARLES C. CASE, JR.

